Title: Fifty Bales of Hay
Author: Rachael Treasure
Published: Harper Collins December 2012
Synopsis: Come have a roll in the hay with one of Australia′s leading rural fiction authors, Rachael Treasure, in her romping, rollicking first-ever collection of romantic stories, celebrating the sexy side of rural life. Guaranteed to get your tractor revving, FIFTY BALES OF HAY is an honest and imaginative exploration of everyday men and women getting down and dirty on the land.
Status: Read on January 01, 2013 — I own a copy {Courtesy TheReadingRoom}
My Thoughts:
Rachael Treasure is a well known Australian author of rural fiction and Fifty Bales of Hay is an entertaining collection of 12 sexy short stories between consenting adults on the land.
‘Lust in the dust’ says the blurb, and in Droving Done and Milking Time the dust is certainly stirred. In The Crutching and Cattle Crush familiar farming equipment is re purposed in inventive ways.
What I particularly loved about this collection is that the women and men featured range widely in age from new adult through to couples in mid life and beyond. I also really appreciated that generally the women take charge of their sexuality and their pleasure, from cougar Krissy in Branded to lonely long haul driver, Celia, in Truck Wash.
There is plenty of Sex in Fifty Bales of Hay – I don’t think it’s quite explicit enough to be termed erotica but for most readers I think the difference would be immaterial.
The references to EL James Fifty Shades of Grey are slyly amusing and I was glad to find there is no attempt to imitate the novel’s story or characters.
Fifty Bales of Hay is an entertaining read, provocative, amusing and even tender. My husband has been trying to convince me to let him buy a ride on mower, I might just let him now 
Available to Purchase
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Jan 15, 2013 @ 08:08:21
LOL . Go the ride on mower! I already have one, so I am def going to ave to read the book now!
Jan 15, 2013 @ 18:53:53
LOL Jenn, I know what you will be doing when the lawn needs mowing next!
Jan 15, 2013 @ 08:46:53
I LOVE that title! Great. I don’t love short stories, generally. But it sounds like a fun read.
Jan 15, 2013 @ 18:54:13
It is fun Judith
Jan 15, 2013 @ 17:27:44
I’ve seen this one around and laughed when i first read the title. I’ll have to get a copy, it sounds like a good read!
Jan 16, 2013 @ 09:19:43
It sounds like an amusing read!
Jan 16, 2013 @ 12:30:15
Interesting. I am torn on this one. I read her books years ago and was not all that fussed by them, but then I heard her speak at Melbourne Writers Festival and she was very funny!
Jan 16, 2013 @ 16:30:48
HI Marg, I had the pleasure of meeting her at a writers’ conference last year and was quite mesmerised. I am yet to read 50 Bales but I do thank her for putting out the title as every 2nd journalist likes to joke by asking every OTHER rural author about 50 shades of anything. At least now we can say “well there is one” So I am pleased for that alone